Receptacle for milk bottles or the like



E. REDAVIS RECEPTACLE FOR MILK BOTTLES OR THE LIKE July 6, 1937.

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 27, 1934 July 6,1937. E, R, DAVIS 2,086,156

RECEPTACLE FOR MILK BOTTLES OR THE LIKE Filed Dec. 27, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented July 6, 1937 RECEPTACLE FOR MILK BOTTLES,

' on THE LIKE Edward R. Davis, Wilkes-Barre, Pa., assignor to Norman Hutchinson, Wilkes-Barre, Pa.

Application December 27, 1934, Serial No. 759,414

Claims.

This invention relates to a receptacle for milk bottles or the like, and it is primarily an object of the invention to provide a device of this kind to prevent theft of milk after being delivered and 5 also to provide a placement for the milk upon delivery whereby the same is free of molestation by dogs or cats and other prowlers.

The invention also has for an object to provide a device of this kind having means for holding a second or extra bottle, said second or extra bottle being held against release by the bottle within the container.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of this kind including a container having an opening to provide for access within the container together with a closure member for said opening, said closure member having means associated therewith to substantially eliminate the possibility of said closure member being moved by an unauthorized person into open position.

The invention consists inthe details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts of my'improved rea ceptacle for milk bottles or the like whereby certain important advantages are attained and the device rendered simpler, less expensive. and otherwise more convenient and advantageous for use, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

The novel features of my invention will hereinafter be definitely claimed.

In order that my invention may be the better understood, I will now proceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure l is a view in vertical section taken through a container constructed in accordance with an embodiment of my invention, an applied bottle being diagrammatically indicated by broken lines and a second position of certainof the parts being indicated by broken lines;

Figure 2 is a bottom plan view of the structure as illustrated in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken through the container as herein disclosed, the line of section of Figure lbeing substantially at right angles to the line of section of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary view in elevation of as illustrated in Figure 4,; U

Figure 6 is a view in rear elevation of the lower portion of the lid as herein employed; 7

Figure 7 is a fragmentary detailed sectional view taken substantially on the line 1'[ of Figure 3.

Figure 8 is a view in perspective of the receptacle embodying my invention with portions broken away and a portion of a bottle indicated by broken lines and the closure member removed; I

. Figure 9 is a view in perspective of the closure member as herein embodied;

Figure 10 is a fragmentary'vertical sectional view taken through the lower portion of the con- .tainer with the parts shown in locking or holding I position with respect to a bottle.

As disclosed in the accompanying drawings,C denotes a container of desired dimensions and preferablyhaving its walls made of sheet metal.

" The top wall I of the container is provided with an opening 2 preferably circular and of, a diameter to readily permit the passage therethrough of a bottle B. This opening 2 is nor- .mally closed by the lid sections 3 each substantiallysemi-circular in form with their straight 1.. marginal portions lapping. At substantially diametrically opposed 'points the sections 3 are connected with the top wall I by the spring hinges 4 whereby the lid sections 3 are normally maintained in closed position with respect to the opening 2 yet capable of readily swinging'down- .ward or inward within the container C to allow -'the placing of a bottle B Within the container The bottom wall 5 for the bottle compartment as herein disclosed, is positioned a material distance inwardly of or above the lower ends of the side walls of the container and secured, as at 6, to opposed side walls I of the container. At points immediately adjacent to the bottom wall 5 are the lower end portions of the upwardly disiposed elongated leaf springs 8 of a material width. These springs 8 intermediate their ends are freely disposed through the holding or guid- Ting loops 9 -carried by the innerfaces of the walls I of the container C. g "The portions ll] of the springs 8 immediately adjacent to, their connections 6 are disposed upwardly 'and inwardly on predetermined curva- [tures and then continued by the substantially straight and upwardly diverging portions ll.

Ithrough theloop members 9 and at a point slight- I 1y, above said loop members 9 have contact with thewalls lot the container. At this point of cong The upper extremities of these portions l I extend thereof will contact with the diverging portions I l of the springs 8 resulting in a deflection ofthe curved portions IE outwardly tow-amen: walls I; such movement causing the outer extremities of the portions H to slide upwardly of the'walls 1 to cause the portions Id to swing inwardly under the lapping portions of the lid sections 3 whereby said lid sections 3 are effectively held against opening movement during-the period the bottle B is within the oontainerC as is clearly illustrated by broken lines in Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings.

It is to be stated at this time that the springs 8 are substantially coplanar with each otherand with the lapping portions ofith lid sections 3 or, in other words, the springs 8 are substantially aligned in a direction substantially at right angles e to the alignment o-f the hinges 4.

A side wall l5 ofthe' container vC is provided along a major portion thereof from a point closely adjacent to the bottom wall 5 to a point closely adjacent to the top wall .I with "an opening I6, said opening "5 being of a width topermit the bottle'B to be withdrawn therethroulgh from within the container C. I

The container C may be inbflfif b a dolor frame in such position that when the door is closed removal of the bottleBthroughthe opening I6 is prevented. However, inv the present embodiment of the invention the opening 16 is closed by a sliding closuremember M. ,"This inember' M in the present instance comprises two'overlying plates l7 and N3 of desired dimensions and which have interposed 'the rebetw een fa lamination or sheet is of asbestos orfthe'like.'Thisinterp'osed lamination or sheet, l9 results in each longitudinal or side marginal portionof 'theinember Mbeing providedwith a groove 20 whereby each side'or longitudinal marginal portion; of the jme'arnb'er M may be slidably eng'ag'ed'or' interlockedtwi'th a guideway 2i extending along the oppbsite'sideslof the side wall l5. Ifhe lamination or sheet l9'of asbestos also provides a rmaememecmg medium and for which reason the side walls of 'thecontainer C other than 'thefwall I5fandfthefwall" 5 have disposed over the inner faces thereof the asbestos laminations or sh'eets.22. V g

The lower portions ofltheplates I T and 18 have interposed therebetween a swinging lever. 23', an

' end portion of whichlbeing;pivotallyfconnected,

pivotal mountingfiddorijthe le'veri f'23iji I Y end portion of the iugzs'isctntmueawe upas at 2A, withsaid plates l1 and l8fat sub stan tially the transversebehter'of 'themember M. "The lever 23 is of a lehgthtolri'roject beyondth'e lower margin of the member M 's'd that 'thesaine'may be readily engaged iorswingingmoven'ieht as will hereinafter be more particularly referredto As the bottle B" wardly inclined lip 21, said lip 21 being spaced from the lever 23 a distance sufiicient to allow the lip 27 to pass through an arcuate slot 28 provided in the side wall l5 of the container C below the opening [6 in said wall. When the lip 2'! is disposed through the slot'28 and the member M lifted to bring the upper face of the lug 25 into contactwitliitheupperiedge'joif the Slot 28, the lip 21willengagerearwardly-of-the wall I5 with a wedging action thus assuring an effective locking of the member M in closed position.

It is highly. important that the member M be maint'aihed in' closed position against opening by unauthorized persons. For this reason the slot 28 in the wall I5 is positioned substantially to one side of the transverse center of said wall 7 to bring an end portion thereof substantially in longitudinal alignment with the pivotal connection of the lever 23 with respect to the member M so that when the lever 23, as illustrated in Figure 6,' is in a position parallel with th'e longitudinal axis "o'fthe member Mthe lugl25 will be received within said end portion er the slot as the member M approaches the limiter its downwardur' closing movement. the member M is further moved to the limit jof' it's 'downward or closing movement the mp 27 will contact with the v inwardly disposed lip'29 at the lower endportion of the slot 28 allowing the'lug'25jto ride 'up' over the wall to a point below the :slotI2 8. This ac-- tion of the lug 25 is permitted by the inherent resiliency possessed by both the member Mand the associated wall I5j The lever 23 is then swung 'in a direction alongthe slot 28 a material distance whereupon upward pull Fis imposedupon "the member M. 'I'hisfwill cause the lug 25 to again projectthrough the slot 28"and efiect a locking of themember' M against further :upward movement. At spaced points 'therealo ng the upper and lower margins of theslot 28 carry the lugs Y 30 extendinginwardly of the slot and which lugs provide stops to prevent swinging movement of "the, lever 23 unless the member M i's'moveddown- "wardly a' distancesufiicient to position th'e lug 25 within the'funobstructedpatlr of travel along 1 the 'slot 28 between the inner "ends ofthe lugs 30. Up or 'this' adjustment o'ff'thememberM thelever 23may'be readily swung to the limit jof its downward movement to bringthe'lipffl-of the lug "above the'lip 29. After this' adjustment of the lever 23 the member M can be further moved downwardly whereupon the lug 25 will-spring over i the sidewall =|5 below the 'slotl The lever 23 is then swungina direction awayfromthe slot 28,

or to the left, a distance suflicient' to position the lug 25 entirely to one side ofthe slot/28 whereupon the member M can then be raised to full open Justbefore the member M reaches' its fully raised p'oSitiOnpthe lug 25 will entera notch or recess 3| in the'walll5 and communicating with the opening l-6.*- This notch 3l-i's. substantially in the form'of an inverted vane as the memberM "continues"to move upwardlyi'the lug-.2 I -will contact with an'inclined side margin-of 1-the notch 3i and th'us automatically-returnithe lever; 23 to its straight ahead i positionas illustratedin Figure 6 so that when the member Mis returned l to closed position said lever23 will be properly adjusted to'eifect-the desired locking berMirvelosediposition. 1 k

T0 facilitate the desired operation-ofthe membe? Mfl 'the outer plated fi at 'its top and-substanoutwardly disposed rfiirger g-rip 32 i The Imember of the-mem M, as is believed obvious to those familiar with devices of this kind, is intended to be adjusted into either open or closed position by the customeras g in order to move the member M into open position it is necessary that one be thoroughly familiar with the required operations to move the lever 23 into position to permit opening movement of the member M whereby unauthorized opening movement of said member M is substantially eliminated.

At a desired distance below the bottom wall 5 the container is provided with a supplemental bottom wall 33 which is provided therethrough with a slot 34. One end portion a of this slot 34 is substantially circular and of a diameter to permit the passage therethrough of the upper open end of the bottle B while the opposite end portion 11 of said slot 33 is elongated and restricted as to width so as to permit the marginal edges of this portion b to readily engage beneath the top bead of a bottle so that such bottle may be suspended if desired from the bottom wall 33. This bottle may be an empty to be returned or may be a filled bottle should it be desired to deliver two bottles of milk or cream.

Hingedly connected, as at 35, with the ma ginal portion of the wall 33 in advance of the opening 34 is the marginal portion of a locking plate 36. The opposite end portion of this plate 36 is recessed, as at 36, to allow said plate 33 to be swung down over the portion a of the slot 34 to hold the neck of a bottle within the restricted portion 11 of the slot 34. The plate 33, however, is normally maintained in a raised or inoperative position through the medium of a retractile member 3"! herein disclosed as a coil spring, one end portion of which being secured, as at 38, to the plate 36 and the opposite end of the spring being anchored, as at 39, to the container C at a desired point above the plate 36. The bottom wall of the bottle compartment within the container C is provided with a relatively narrow slot 46 through which projects from below an arcuate trigger member 4!. This trigger member 4| is carried by an elongated member 42 disposed at right angles to the slot 40 and positioned below the bottom wall 5. The member 42 at its extremities is provided. with the downwardly disposed parallel arms G3 which are freely mounted on a rod 44 carried by the opposed walls I of the container C below the bottom wall 5. This mounting of the arms 453 permits the same to have rocking movement and these arms 43 are normally maintained raised by a second retractile member 45 also herein disclosed as a coil spring having one end portion secured to an arm 43 and the opposite end portion also secured at 39 to a wall of the container C.

The upward swinging movement of the plate 36 under the action of the spring 31 is limited by contact of the plate from below with the lower longitudinal marginal portions of the arms 43 and which arms under such conditions are disposed downwardly from the rod 46 on an angle of approximately forty-five degrees. With the plate 36 and the arms 43 in their normal positions as determined by the retractile members or springs 31 and 45, the trigger member M extends upwardly through the slot 43 into the lower portion of the bottle compartment within the container C. As a bottle is applied within this compartment the weight of the bottle upon the trigger member 4| will cause the trigger member 4! to swing downwardly in a direction to throw the arms 43 downwardly to bring the plate 33 into its locking or effective position.

The forward portion of the recess 33 at the opposite sides thereof is provided with the notches 33 in each of which is received an upstanding the like constructed in accordance with my inv vention is particularly well adapted for use by reason of the convenience and facility with which it may be assembled and operated, and it will also be obvious that my invention is susceptible of some change and modification without de-. parting from the principles and spirit thereof and for this reason I do not Wish to be understood as limiting myself to the precise arrangement and formation of the several parts herein shown in carrying out my invention in practice except as hereinafter claimed.

I claim:

1. A device of the class described comprising,

in combination, a container having a compartment to receive a milk bottle, a plate carried by the container below the compartment having an opening, one end portion of which being enlarged to allow the neck portion of a second bottle to be engaged within the restricted portion of said opening, a closure plate for the enlarged portion of the opening to hold the neck portion of the bottle within said restricted portion of the opening, and means operating under the influence of the bottle within the compartment of the container for moving the closure plate into effective position and to maintain the closure plate in such position.

2, A device of the class described comprising, in combination, a container having a compartment to receive a milk bottle, a plate carried by the container below the compartment having an opening, one end portion of which being enlarged to allow the neck portion of a second bottle to be engaged within the restricted portion of said opening, a closure plate for the enlarged portion of the opening to hold the neck portion of the bottle within said restricted portion of the opening, and means operating under the influence of the bottle within the compartment of the container for moving the closure plate into effective position and to maintain the closure plate in such position, both of the plates interlocking when the closure plate is in effective position.

3. A device of the class described comprising, in combination, a container having a compartment to receive a milk bottle, a plate carried by the container below the compartment having an opening, one end portion of which being enlarged to allow the neck portion of a second bottle to be engaged within the restricted portion of said opening, a closure plate for the enlarged portion of the opening to hold the neck portion of the bottle within said restricted portion of the open ing, means operating under the influence of the bottle within the compartment of the container 3 for moving the closure plate into effective position and to maintain the closure platein such position, and means for normally maintaining the closure plate in an inoperative position;

4. A device of the class described comprising,

in' combination, a container'having a compartment to receive a milk bottle, a plate positioned below the compartment and having an opening, one end portion of the opening being enlarged Y to permit the neck portion of a second bottle to be engaged within the restricted portion of the opening, a closure plate, means for supporting said closure plate by the container for swinging movement into a position to close the enlarged portion of the opening, means for normally maintaining said plate raised, a rock arm contacting with the closure plate for moving the closure plate into effective position upon movement of the rock arm in one direction, and a trigger operatively carried by the rock arm, said trigger extending with the compartment of the container when the closure plate is in open position for contact by a bottle applied within the compartment of the container to swing the rock arm in a direction to move the closure member into efiective position.

5. A device of the class described comprising, in combination, a container having a compart- .ment to receive a milk bottle; a plate positioned belowithe compartment and having an opening,

taining said plate raised, a rock arm contacting .with the closure plate for moving the closure plate into effective positionupon movement of the rock arm in one direction, a trigger operatively carried by the rock arm, said trigger extending within the compartment of the container when the closure plate is in open position for contact by a bottle applied within the compartment of the container to swing the rock. arm in a direction to move the closure member into-effective position,

and yieldable'means for holding the rock arm 20 i when the closure member is in open position.

EDWARD RFDAYVIS. 

